Ophthalmic mounting



June 4, 1940. G. A. ELLE STAD OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING Filed Feb.' 8, 1937 Patented June 4, 1940 PATENT OFFlCE OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING Gerhard'A. Ell'estad, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Bausch & Lomb Optical Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 8,1937, Serial'No. 124,601

1 Claim. (01. 88-49) This invention relates to ophthalmic mountings and more particularly it has reference to spectacles which embody multifocal lenses having portions used for near vision and portions used for distant vision. In such types of lenses, as bifocals, for example, the reading portion is usually relatively small in area and is placed at the lower part of the lens, thus leaving the upper portion unrestricted for distant Vision.

With the near vision portions thusly positioned, it is necessary for the wearer, when reading, to tilt his head backwards and look downwardly so that his lines of vision will pass through the near vision portions. Such positions are awk- 5 ward and tiresome and to overcome these disadvantages it has been proposed to make spec-.

taclesin which the nose pads and lenses are relatively movable vertically so as to permit selective positioning of the near and distant vision portions before the eyes of the wearer. Mountings and frames of this type have. as far as'I am aware, been relatively complicated in structure and rather unsightly in appearance.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an ophthalmic mounting which will be relatively simple in structure and yet embody means for adjustably positioning the noseengaging members with respect to the lenses.

Another object is to provide such a mounting which will be relatively simple to manufacture,

present a neat appearance and be adapted for convenient use. A further object is to provide an ophthalmic mounting having a bridge mem her with lens holding means slidably mounted thereon. Further objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts as will hereinafter be more fully described and pointed out in the appended claim. Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 .is a front View of a pair of rimless spectacles embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View showing the bridge and lens strap connections of same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the bridge and sliding lens holder with the latter in the lower position.

v Fig. 4 is a similar view but showing the lens holder at its proper position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a modified construction shown attached to an eyewire.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the bridge and con-' nection of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view of a detail of Fig. 5.

One embodiment of my invention is shown in Figs. 1-4 wherein l0 indicates, generally, a pair of rimless spectacles comprising the two bifocal lenses I! having reading portions l2. Thelenses are connected by a bridge member is having spaced vertical sides M on each of which is slidably mounted a rectangular tubular member Eli carrying the lens strap l6 connected to lens II. A rearwardly extending arm l 'l, carrying a 10 nose-engaging pad i8, is soldered to each side portion I4 adjacent the end thereof. The arm I! preferably has an upturned projection I9 which is adapted to engage a notch 20 in the wall of member I5 when the latter is down at 15 its lower position, as shown in Fig. 2. The inner face of each bridge side M is provided with a notch 2i which is adapted to be engaged by the resilient tongue 22 carried by member ill for holding the latter, and the lens it carries, in a 20 raised position as shown in Fig. i. The lenses l l carry the usual endpieces 23 for pivotally supporting temples, not shown.

It will be apparent, from the foregoing description, that the lenses H are slidably mount- 5 ed on the sides 14 of the bridge l3 so that, with the bridge and nose pads E3 in a fixed position, the lenses may be selectively raised or lowered. N0 auxiliary bridge member is employed to connect the twosliding members M and hence the 30 mounting is relatively simple in structure and presents a, neat apearance. In. the position shown in Fig. 1 the lenses are adapted for use i of the distant vision portions. When the wearer wishes to read, he holds the bridge It in place 35 and raises each lens ll upward until the resilient tongue 22 engages the notch 2i. The upturned end IS on arm [1 cooperates with the notch 2t and so provides a sturdy, secure connection when the lenses are in the lowered position. 0

A modification is shown in Figs. 5'7 wherein 4 the lens II is held in an eyewire 25 which is attached to the tubular member 26. The vertical bridge side I l slidably receives the member 26 and has on its rear face notches Z1 and 28 45 adapted to cooperate with a ridge 29 on spring 30 positioned between the rear face of side l4 and the rear wall of member 26. The arm 3! is positioned in an aperture 32 in the lower end of side l4 and is detachably secured by a set 50 screw 33. The rearwardly extending arm 3!, of course, carries a nose-engaging pad, not shown.

It will be evident that the lens II' can be selectively moved up and down on the bridge side l4 so as to position the lens for reading or dis- 55 tant vision. The spring 30 cooperating with the notches 27 or 28 will serve to lock the lens in the upper and lower positions, respectively. In its lower position, the member 26 also contacts with arm 3! which serves as a limiting stop. The bridge and arm may be taken apart by removing screw 33.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I am able to attain the objects of my invention and provide an ophthalmic mounting which will permit of the selective raising or lowering of the lenses with respect to the fixed bridge. The ins vention can, of course, be applied to either rimless or rimmed spectacles or eyeglasses. The mounting is simple in structure, neat inyappearance and convenient in operation. Various modifications can obviously be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as pointed out in the appended claim.

I claim:

In an ophthalmic mounting the combination of a bridge having a vertical side portion with a face provided with spaced notches, a tubular member slidably mounted on said side portion, a lens carried by said member, a resilient locking element carried bysaid 'member, said element being positioned between said face of 10 the side portion and a wall of said tubular member and having a portion which is normally urged into locking engagement with a selected notch on said vertical side portion whereby the position ,of the lensmay be selectively adjusted.

.GERHARD A. ELLESTAD. 

